10. Plaid Cymru Debate: Access to Health Services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:04 pm on 6 November 2019.

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Photo of Angela Burns Angela Burns Conservative 5:04, 6 November 2019

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I formally so move those amendments. I'd like to thank Helen Mary Jones for opening this debate, and I think the word or numbers '2030' will forever be emblazoned on my heart after today's series of debates, what with hepatitis C and the diagnosis targets, because you mention about the fact that we need our workforce in place, and the concern we have is the fact that the workforce is so out of kilter with the ever-growing needs of the population. Our cancer survival rates still lag behind other countries, and it's a recognised fact that early diagnosis is key to ensure that patients have a better chance of survival.

Now, Welsh Government have brought forward fresh thinking with the single cancer pathway and the rapid diagnostic clinics, but, according to Cancer Research UK, this work is at risk of being undermined by gaps in the workforce. Patient demand is increasing, the number of confirmed cases of cancer will increase to an annual total of 25,000 a year by 2035, up from the current 19,000. So, we must ensure that our diagnostic workforce keeps pace with that.

Again, for example, the demand for imaging services has risen by 10 per cent per year over the last five years, and yet the radiology workforce has only risen by 1 per cent. I see it in my health board of Hywel Dda, and I'm sure that other Members see it in the health boards that they have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Most worryingly, all bar one health board are struggling to recruit and retain radiographers, and this last year, Welsh radiology departments spent an estimated £8.8 million on outsourcing, overtime, and insourcing extra staff—up by almost £4 million. If we had that £8.8 million that we could actually spend on training—because you need the training places and then recruiting the radiologist to our health boards—we would have a better use of that funding. Yes, Huw.